MEET THE ARTIST: CHRISTINE ROBINSON

MEET THE ARTIST: CHRISTINE ROBINSON
Christine Robinson is originally from Adelaide, where she studied art at the S.A School of Art as a mature age student – a time that she describes as a “wondrous four years.”  For the last twenty years, she has lived in the Northern Rivers, NSW, in the town of Murwillumbah. She works from home in a small studio which is filled with everything ‘art’. “I just love that I can go there, day or night, and paint or contemplate. Cups of tea are an important component, oh and cats of course!”
 
Christine has been creating art for many years and it has always been a constant in her life. It is a daily practice. She is constantly inspired by all the other artists around her: “Murwillumbah is full of them. We also have the best art supply store, Yellow Brick Studio, run by an artist, and the Tweed Regional Gallery nearby.”
 
Christine previously worked with oil paints, but as she describes, her impatient nature didn’t suit that medium, and she now uses acrylics. “When I start a work, I do not want to know where it is going, I want to discover that along the way. I want the experience of discovery and surprise – it’s about the process for me. The work begins with randomness and chaos. Layers of paint, marks, Japanese Yuzen paper etc. This is when I stop and look, and we start to have a dialogue – a conversation. A painting may begin with a discovered bird or flower, and then the whole thing starts to come together.”
 
“I am intrigued by colour, colour combinations and how they make me feel, if they sing together or not. I have always been fascinated by the idea of “home”; that place of shelter and safety, along with birds, cats, houses, gardens, trees, boats. My subject matter stays quite consistent, but the manner in which it is executed changes. I strive to create a work that is a harmonious whole and something that I would be happy to put in my home.”
 
 
See Forman’s new range of beautiful Christine Robinson works here!

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MEET THE ARTIST: SALLY BROWNE

MEET THE ARTIST: SALLY BROWNE
Sally is best known for her stylised paintings of Australian flora and fauna. “My work is informed by the wild nature that flourishes in the unkempt gardens and streets of my inner-city neighbourhood."

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MEET THE ARTIST: KATE DEBBO

MEET THE ARTIST: KATE DEBBO
Kate Debbo has always loved to paint, but says that it took her a very long time to build up the courage to do it as a career. “After travelling for a few years, I went to art school but dropped out after a year and a half to continue travelling. In that time, my husband and I fell pregnant and after having a second baby, I never found the gap to return to my studies. So I am mainly self-taught. I have always managed to carve out a space to paint, no matter where in the world we have been or how small the space.”
After immigrating to Australia 8 years ago, Kate had a ‘now or never’ wake-up call and took the leap to paint professionally. Now living and working in the beautiful regional town of Margaret River, WA, she paints in “a very messy corner of the lounge. We are in the process of building a tall tin shed for me in our garden, which will be a dream come true! I couldn’t create my work without my super supportive family who put up with my mess (mentally and physically) while I build my art career.”
Kate is endlessly inspired by her interpretation of things she has seen, absorbed and remembered throughout each day. “For me, the magic is in the making.”
“I begin each new work terrified of the white canvas, so I’ve learnt to just make random and/or more decisive marks until the fear disappears and the picture takes over! Destroying most of what I make and then reviving parts of it seems to be a huge part of my creative process. Each piece is only what it is because of what lies beneath the layers of ‘mistakes’. I use long sticks and both my hands to manipulate the oil paint.”
“My works are made from memory and imagination because I want to paint an emotional response rather than a direct observation. My horse series is a lot more controlled by me – the animals appeared in some of my paintings as a symbol of the link between our domestic, tamed roles and something more magical and nostalgic. I am endlessly inspired by the everyday contrasts, absurdities and twists in the tale and through my work I hope to engage the viewers’ imagination and spark a sense of identification and resonance.”
When describing her career highlights, Kate says that every small step in the journey feels like a highlight. “From gaining commissions, exhibiting alongside inspiring artists, participating in art prizes, joining exciting galleries and just getting to be a practicing artist makes me feel incredibly lucky!
 
See Forman’s range of stunning Kate Debbo works here!

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MEET THE ARTIST: RACHAEL LITTLE

MEET THE ARTIST: RACHAEL LITTLE


Rachael Little has been creating from a young age. She studied Visual Arts and Fine Arts at Melbourne University. Over the years she has worked in ceramics studios and taught ceramic painting.


Along with art, flowers have always played a large part in Rachael’s life. She worked as a florist for 10 years and flowers, foliage and garden landscapes continue to provide her with constant inspiration.


Rachael has been creating from a young age and it’s something she describes as “calming and truly relaxing”. She works from her home studio in Melbourne, “with three kids and a bit of family chaos thrown in for good measure.” The studio looks onto a garden she created with her husband 15 years ago. Some parts of the garden are structured and layered and other parts are whimsical and flowing - something that is reflected in her own paintings.


When painting, Rachael rarely starts with a set plan. Instead, she works spontaneously, loosely painting from her memory and imagination. Her paintings are built up in layers with loose patterns.


Colour is extremely important to Rachael, as can be seen in her bright and joyful works. “Matching colours, clashing colours and blended colours – sometimes I do it all in the same painting! I want people to feel joy whenever they walk past these artworks, and to find something new each time they look at them.”
 
See Forman's range of beautiful Rachael Little works here!

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